Apparatus for supporting film during processing



April 27, 1954 A s. s. ALBERTs ET Al.- 2,676,767

APPARATUS FOR SUPPORTING FILM DURING PROCESSING Filed Oct. 25, 1946 f lnlIfI KMA, LAMA, ,f4-m17 ffm Tg5/K ATTORNEYS Patented Apr. 27, 1954 APPARATUS PoR SUPPORTING FILM DURING PROCESSING Sydney S. Alberts and Arthur S. Alberts, Yonkers, N. Y.

Application october 25, 1946,k serial No. 705,678

(ci. 24e- 77) 6 Claims. 1

This invention relates to photographic film developing apparatus and more particularly to the supporting of film strip, such as roll film and cut or sheet film, in developing or processing tanks, the purpose of the invention being to provide an improved apparatus for supporting such filmstrips.

Film reels, such as are used for supporting roll film, comprise a pair of discs mounted in appropriately spaced relation on a spindle, the inner surfaces of the discs being provided with spiral grooves or channels extending inwardly from the peripheries of the discs. These channels engage the marginal edgesv of the film strip and support its convolutions in spaced relation with each other so that when the device is placed in the developing tank the developing or other treatment solution may contact the entire surface of the ilm. The reel may be loaded by feeding the edge of the film strip into the spiral channels commencing at the periphery of the reel and Working outwardly, or by impelling, i. e., pushing, the film into the spiral channels coinmencing at the periphery of the reel and working the forward end of the strip toward the center.

One of the difficulties in manipulating nlm reels as heretofore constructed is that the spacing of the reel discs may not be correct for the particular width of nlm which is being used. If rthe discs are spaced slightly too far apart, the edges of the film may become improperly lodgedv in, or dislodged from, the spiral channels, allowing two or more successive convolutions to rest in the same channel and thereby bring their surfaces into contact with one another, with the resulting' non-development and spoilage of the affected touching areas of the film. If, however, the reel discs are spaced even slightly too close together, it becomes considerably more dimcult to feed the strip 'into the channels because of increased frictional resistance. VInasmuch as the loading of such reels must be done in the dark, the impor-'- tance of having the reel properly adjusted to the lm strip will be appreciated.

The film strips in common use, such as 35 mm., No. 127, 120, 116, etc., are not always made undeviatingly uniform and accurate in their several widths. They vary somewhat in width from manufacturer to manufacturer. There are slight variations in the width of rolls made by the same manufacturer, and there may be slight variations in width, and irregularities of edge, in the same roll of film. Some rolls will, therefore, fit too loosely .in the channels, with the consequent danger, either during loading or when being Z agitated in the processing tank, of the iilms escaping from the channel. Also, some rolls will t the reel too tightly and make loading dicult or impossible.

Accordingly one of the objects of the present invention is to provide a reel construction which eliminates such difficulties of manipulation.

. Cut or sheet film is desired by many instead of roll film because the cut fllm" is available in a larger range of sizes and with better sensitizing emulsions, and because it is often preferable to process negatives individually. As heretofore constructed roll lm reels accommodate only roll film, and cut lm holders, only cut iilm.

Another object of the invention is to provide a 'holderl or reel which Will accommodate both roll lm and cut or sheet 111m in Athe same device, either togetherv or separately.

Cut or sheet lm pieces are ordinarily difficult to handle in processing. One difficulty is in supporting or holding such lm to prevent displacement caused by agitation in the processing tank, particularly when developing several sheets of film simultaneously.

The invention will be understood from a consideration of the following detailed description taken together with the accompanying drawings which, by way of example, illustrate two embodiments of the improved film-holding device or reel. In these drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side view of the improved filmholding reel with several strips of film loaded therein, the reel being in the vertical position, the position which it occupies in the processing tank; Y

Fig. 2 is a sectional view, taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1, drawn to an enlarged scale;

Fig. 3 is a vertical section drawn to a still larger scale and taken on line 3 3 of Fig. 1 to show the construction of the mounting for the lower reel discs;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view corresponding with line 4 4 of Fig. 2 showing the reel with its axis in the horizontal position for loading;

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4 with the parts in a different position;

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 1 of a modification; and v Fig. 7 is a sectional view drawn on the same scale as Fig. 3 and taken on line 'l-l of Fig. 6.

Referring now to these drawings there is shown in Fig. 1 a film-holding reel comprising a spindle I, an upper reel disc 2 and a lower reel disc 3. Upper disc 2 is provided with a hub 4 between which and the surface of Spindle I is .fitted a spring clip 5, preferably formed of a narrow' strip of spring metal. Rotation of the disc on the spindle is prevented by splining or otherwise. On one side of spindle I there is a series of notches 6, with any one of which the clip 5 may be selectively engaged. Notches 6 are placed at intervals along spindle I to correspond to the width of standard roll, vor sheet, nlm, such for example as 35 mm., No. 127, 120, 116 etc. as previously mentioned. The lower reel disc 3 is, in the form of the invention shown in Fig. 1, mounted on the lower end of spindle I where it remains, the spacing adjustment of the two discs for the approximate width size of the nlm being accomplished by shifting upper disc 2.

As shown in Fig. l the reel disc 2 has been adjusted for a comparatively widenlm 1. 'The nlm is supported by its margins as is customary by means of spiral channels formed in the inner faces of each of the two discs 2 and 3. In Fig. 2 the form of one of these channels which is indicated by numeral 8 may be observed. This channel has a mouth 9 at the periphery of the disc, and after making a series of turns, terminates at I0 adjacent the hub II of the disc.

Discs 2 and 3 are provided with openings such as the slots I2 which are distributed at intervals throughout the areas of the discs in order to allow treatment solutions to freely enter the channels 3 and come into contact with all convolutions of the nlm strip. It will be understood that the total length of channels S is sufficient to receive the longest nlm strip which the reel is intended to accommodate, usually in the neighborhood of nve or six feet. For the purpose of illustration, the reel has been shown as being loaded with a roll nlm 1, and a number of individual pieces of cut or sheet nlm, 1a, 1b, and 1c. It will be understood that in practice both `kinds of nlm strip, that is roll nlm and cut nlm, will not usually be developed at the same time.

The adjustment of the upper reel disc 2 by engaging spring clip 5 in the proper notch 6 provides the principal, or coarse adjustment of the spacing of the two reel discs to correspond with the width of the particular nlm strip toV be processed. This adjustment does not, however, take into account the Variations in width of film of the same standard size from manufacturer to manufacturer, or such variations in width as occur from roll to roll, or package to package, of the same manufacturer, or even within the same roll, or package. In order to accomplish a further adjustment of the spacing of discs 2 and 3 so as to take into account the variations of width just mentioned, an auxiliary or nne adjustment of the reel spacing of the two discs is provided for. In the preferred form of the invention shown in Figs. 1-5 inclusive, this auxiliary or nne adjustinent is accomplished by the construction of the mounting of the lower reel disc'3 on spindle I as shown in Figure 3 in enlarged sectional view.

The hub I I of disc 3 is provided with a smooth internal bore so as to slide longitudinally on the lower end of spindle I. Turning motion between the two parts is prevented in any suitable manner, as for example by splining, or by means of a pin I3 which is nxed to and projects outwardly from the surface of spindle I and is received in an internal longitudinal slot I4 formed in the bore of hub II. The lower end of spindle I has a portion I5 of reduced diameter which is threaded to receive knurled nut I6.

The upper surface of nut I6 engages the lower end of hub II, these parts being maintained'in contact with one another by means of a coil spring I'I placed between the upper end of hub l I and a collar I8 which is nxed to spindle I. Nut I6 is threaded onto the reduced end I5 with a nne pitch thread so that by turning nut I6 a minute or screw controlled or so called micrometer adjustment of reel disc 3 lengthwise of spindle l in either direction may be obtained. The engagement of the bottom of slot I4 with pin I3 affords a stop to limit the extent of movement of reel disc 3 in the direction of reel disc 2. Friction between nut I and hub II, caused by the compression of spring I1 serves to hold nut I6 in adjusted position.

By means of this construction not only is the upper reel disc 2 set or adjusted for the particular standard width of nlm, but also the lower reel disc 3 may be minutely adjusted in one direction or the other depending upon whether the particular roll of nlm is a little narrower or a little wider than the standard width. In this way the loading of the nlm into the reel is facilitated and the danger of injury through having two convclutions in the same channel and therefore in contact with one another is very much reduced.

During the loading of the nlm strip into the device of the invention the strip is made to assume a curved form as it follows the channels 3, and after the nlm strip has been fed into the channels the reel discs are caused to approach each other so as to clampingly engage the curved edges of the strip and squeeze the strip laterally with a pressure sufficient to frictionally support the strip. This provides an especially eiiective support for the nlm strip, particularly short lengths of strip, such as cut or sheet nlm. vBy curving, bending or cupping the strip, its resistance to compressural or clamping forces applied to its opposite edges is increased to such an extent that the nlm can be so nrmly engaged that there is no possibility of its escape from the supporting device, or for the nlm strip to shift4 after the clamping pressure has been applied.

The curved form which the nlm strip may assume may have various shapes, but preferably the strip is given a substantially uniformly curved shape as exemplined by the three short nlm strips 1a, 'Ib and'lc. Also the clamping engagement of the curved edges of the strip may be accomplished inv various Ways and with various kinds of mechanism. One convenient way of applying this clamping pressure is by turning the knurled nut I6 of the reel construction previously described so as to bring the reel discs 2 and 3 closer together and cause the opposite edges of the nlm strip to be squeezed by the two discs This is illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5 where the reel is shown in the horizontal position which is the position for loading. In Fig. 4 reel discs 2 and 3 have been adjusted to an approximately proper spacing for the threading of the nlm into the nlm channels 8 of the two discs during the loading operation. In Fig. 5 nut I has been turned so as to cause the edges of the nlm strips 1, ia, 'Ib and 'Ic to be squeezed by contact with the bottoms of the channels.

The clamping pressure applied in this manner also serves to lock the nlm strips in their positions in the reel to prevent shifting which otherwise might be producedby the mechanical reaction of the processing liquid on the nlm brought about by the normal agitation of the reel in the tank. In loading the reel the several sheets of cut nlm to be developed are inserted one after the other in the same channel entrance il, in the samemanner that a roll of film would be infserted, asimplification possible because the sheets of lm are maintained in the same relative position to one another in the reel during processing, by the clamping action of the discs.

Referring now to Figs. 6 and 7 there is here shown a modified form of the film-holding reel which is similar in all respects to the reel construction previously described except that both the main and auxiliary, or coarse and line, adjustments are associated with a single reel disc, the upper reel disc 2a. In this modication lower reel disc 3a may have its hub xed to the lower end portion of spindle la, as for example by means of a pin.

The construction of mounting for the upper reel disc 2a is shown in detail in enlarged sectional view in Fig. 7. Spindle la is provided with notches 6 as before and the hub 20 of reel disc 2a is bored to receive a bushing 2l which supports the reel disc on the spindle. On the interior of bushing 2l there is a spring clip 5a which is adapted to engage notches for the coarse adjustment in the same manner as described in connection with Fig. l. It will be understood that both hub t of reel disc 2 and bushing 2l of reel disc 2a are prevented from rotating with respect to their respective spindles in any suitable manner (not shown). The hub 28 of reel disc 2a is arranged for sliding on the exterior of bushing 2l and means for preventing relative rotation between these parts is provided, for example, by a pin I 3a which slides in a slot l fia on the interior wall of bushing 2l. 'I'he lower end of bushing 2l is iianged as indicated at 22 to support a coil spring l1 between it and the end of hub 29, while the upper end of bushing 2| is threaded as indicated at 23 to receive a knurled nut 2li. The auxiliary or fine adjustment of the two reels relative to one another is thereby provided by turning nut 24 in either direction so as to shift the hub of reel 2a on its supporting bushing 2 l.

While the invention has been illustrated by means of the two embodiments thereof just described, it will be understood that changes not shown in either of these embodiments may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. The scope of the invention is set forth in the appended claims.

We claim:

1. A film-holding reel for use in nlm developing tanks comprising a spindle, two discs mounted on the spindle and having channels on their inner faces to receive the opposite marginal edges of a film, means engageable with the spindle for holding one of said discs in adjusted position with respect to the other of said discs to eiect an approximate adjustment of the discs longitudinally of the spindle to accommodate a given width of film, other means carried by the spindle and engageable with one of said discs for shifting said engageable disc relative to the other disc to effect an exact adjustment of the spacing between the discs longitudinally of the spindle to suit the particular film or to cause the opposite marginal edges thereof to be squeezed between said discs, said other means being carried by the spindle and having a manipulating part for adjustment of the spacing of the discs located outwardly beyond one of the discs and accessible for operation after a film has been received in the channels of said discs, and means for holding the discs in their exactly adjusted spaced position longitudinally of the spindle.

2. A nlm-holding reel as dened in claim 1 in which resilient means are provided for assisting in maintaining the relatively adjusted position of the discs.

3. A film-holding reel as dened in claim 1 in which said means engageable with the spindle is selectively adjustable longitudinally of the spindle, and said other means carried by the spindle engages the other of said discs.

4. A nlm-holding reel as deined in claim 3 in which the other of said discs has a hub slidable on one end portion of the spindle, a nut is threaded onto the spindle and engages the outer side of the hub and is operable to shift the other of said discs toward or away from the selectively adjustable disc, and the threads of the nut and spindle are of a pitch to provide a finer and more accurate adjustment of the spacing of the discs than that provided by the means to adjust the spacing of the discs for different lms.

5. A film-holding reel as defined in claim l in which one of said discs is xedly secured to the spindle and the other of said discs has a bushing supporting it on the spindle, which bushing is adjustable longitudinally along the spindle to provide the approximate adjustment, and the means for providing the exact adjustment is carried by said bushing.

6. A film-holding reel as defined in claim 5 in which resilient means are provided for assisting in maintaining the relatively adjusted position of the discs.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

